Life Writing - Softcover

Horner, Winifred Bryan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130792373 ISBN 13: 9780130792372

Publisher: Pearson, 1996

Synopsis

In readings that move from personal diaries and personal letters through autobiography and biography that assumes a public readership, and finally to the essay, the reader is led through an ever-widening audience. Starting with pieces that draw entirely on the writer's life to biography requiring research into another person's life, the reader moves from subjective to objective experience and finally to the essay that attempts to put that experience into a larger context. The selections are followed by "Musings" which suggest features of the writing that the reader might imitate and recommendations for writing. "Connections" presents ways in which individual pieces might be paired with others to make interesting comparisons and to generate other writing ideas. A range of familiar and unfamiliar selections are organized from the subjective to the objective and become increasingly difficult. They present a wide range of writing styles to allow readers to become comfortable with many styles. In addition, these selections represent a variety of cultures and historical periods to give readers an appreciation of other cultures and a sense of history. A valuable book for any reader who wishes to improve their writing skills by reading a variety of selections by a range of writers.

About this title

From the Publisher

This reader focuses exclusively on reading and writing about the self and others. It offers selections that move from writing for oneself (journals and diaries) to writing for an audience (letters); from writing based on personal experience (autobiographies) to writing based on research (biographies). This development culminates in the essay, a form of writing in which personal experience and gained knowledge are shared with a public readership. Selections are followed by "Musings," which point out rhetorical and thematic features of the writing that students can analyze. Many contain writing suggestions asking students to imitate a writer's style or strategy. "Making connections," a short section appearing at the front of the text, is designed to generate ideas for class discussion and writing assignments by showing students how to compare selections written by the same author or written about the same subject.

From the Back Cover

Life writing involves an in-depth investigation into the nature of self and others that grows out of self-awareness and identification with others. As writers, we must always begin with what we know best-- our own experience of the world--and attempt through words to make that experience meaningful for others.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0130792373
• ISBN 13: 9780130792372
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352